Kill Your T.V.

By Mix 96.5's Jason Parker

If you did not attend the City of Roses Music Festival the last weekend of September you missed out. I must admit that I had never really experienced it before and was a virgin to it all, however my first time was painless. With so many different venues to catch local music, plus the barge it was a virtual smorgasbord of audio delight. I managed to check out two and a half acts. Death Wish, Squad Car, and a bit of some bluegrass band that was playing on the main stage after Dave Mason. All three were impressive in their own right.

Death Wish, despite what you might assume based on their name, did not scream possessed into the microphone about fetus on a stick or killing things, nor did they have any sort of over inflated sense of ego on stage. But they did have a stage presence that added to my virginal experience. They joked and acknowledged the audience that grew in numbers as the set went on. Jovial as they were between songs, they're talent is no joke as they took their artistry seriously. Yet another quality of local music shows and yet another local act you need to check out.

Squad Car made me laugh, but not because they sucked. Squad Car is arguably one of the areas premiere acts. They have a take no prisoner attitude with music to match. Heckle them and be heckled back. The trio worked off of each other well between songs.

Squad Car, like Death Wish didn't work the stage like some Mark McGrath wannabe's. They knew their role and stepped up. Again, as with Death Wish, Squad Car is another local act that you need to see.

The third and final group that I experienced at the City of Roses Music Festival had no name, as I was not in a condition to remember. I can't remember much but I think they were from Tennessee. I just remember that they played some really good bluegrass music. I'm a sucker for a banjo and a mandolin. Seriously.

Live, loud, and local, three ways to enjoy music as art, music as entertainment, and music as music. Death Wish, Squad Car, the nameless bluegrass group, and many other bands that played at the City of Roses are just more reasons to kill your t.v. and go check out the local music scene.